Simulated table football game

ABSTRACT

A plurality of figures simulating football players are manipulated on a table freely into various positions by tubular handles which extend beyond the respective ends of the table and are guided in elongated slots; each tubular handle has a resilient squeeze bulb adapted to be gripped for suitable manipulation of the respective playing figure and, when the ball is adjacent to a figure, by squeezing the bulb air is blown through a nozzle against a plate simulating kicking feet, which swings the feet against the ball so that the ball appears to be kicked by the player. Other figures, corresponding to defensive players on each team, are manipulated through handle bars extended beneath the table with magnets at their inner ends adjacent the magnetic bottoms of the respective defensive figures; in addition a goalie figure at each end is provided with a manipulator for moving hand-like members to grip the ball.

United States Patent [191 Crisn ani SIMULATED TABLE FOOTBALL GAME ['76]Inventor: Nerino Crismani, 1250 Francisco Street, San Francisco, Calif.94123 [22] Filed: Oct; 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 190,920

[52] U.S. CL. 273/85 H, 273/85 F, 273/127 B [51] Int. Cl. A63f 7/06 [58]Field of Search 273/85 E, 85 F, 85 H,

- 273/94 E, 94 F, 94 H, 119 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS ll/l947 Gosnell ..273/85F 1,982,491 "ll/1934 Barnum June 26,1973 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner--Harry G.Strappello Attorney-George B. White '[5 7] ABSTRACT A plurality offigures simulating football players are manipulated on a table freelyinto various positions by tubular handles which extend beyond therespective ends of the table and are guided in elongated slots; eachtubular handle has a resilient squeeze bulb adapted to be gripped forsuitable manipulation of the respective playingfigure and, when the ballis adjacent to a figure, by squeezing the bulb air is blown through anozzle against a plate simulating kicking feet, which swings the feetagainst the ball so that the ball appears to be kicked by the player.Other figures, corresponding to defensive players on each team, aremanipulated through handle bars extended beneath the table with magnetsat their inner ends adjacent the magnetic bottoms of the respectivedefensive figures; in addition a goalie figure at each end is providedwith a manipulator for moving hand-like members to grip the ball.

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INVEUTOE 67 NEE/NO CE/SMAN/ ATTOQNEY I SIMULATED TABLE FOOTBALL GAMEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION the outlet of which was stationary on theplaying .table or board. In other-instances figures were magneticallyshifted on the board without being able to simulate the kicking of aball.

The primary feature of this invention is to simulate the movement ofsoccer players on the playing field and simultaneously by squeezing abulb blow compressed air to operate a foot-like kicking member whenadjacent the ball, the manipulation to be performed with comparativefreedom of directing the figures to various locations so that themovement of the figures substantially simulates the playing of the game.

Another feature of the invention is to accomplish the manipulation andthe provision of the compressed air for the kicking operation by thesame handles, which handles are arranged in such a way as to facilitatethe players at each end to shift from manipulation of one figure tomanipulation of another quickly, as required by the movement of theball.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the gameillustrating the arrangement of the figures and the manipulating handleson the table.

FIG. 2 is'a fragmental top plan view illustrating the directionalarrangementof certain of the figures.

FIG. 3 is a side view with the table frame partly in section showingcertain of the figures facing the ball.

FIG. 4 is a fragmental sectional view, the section being taken on lines4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmental partly sectional view showing the goalie with itsmanipulator.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view showing a kicking figure in section and theattached tuublar handle with the ball at its end.

FIG. 7 is a perspective detailed view of one of the fig ures on a largerscale.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view. of the same figure in a kicking attitude.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a magnetically controlled figure andshowing the magnetic tip of the manipulating bar. 1

FIG. 10 is a perspective'view of the goalie and the manipulatingmechanism for the arms thereof.

FIG. 11 is a partly sectional view of the goalie.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION a figure 8 simulating a football player. On theouter end of each handle bar is a resilient compression bulb 9 which isgripped for the manipulation of the figure 8.

Below the palying field Zand spaced therefrom is a double bottom 11secured to the longitudinal sides 3 and ends 4. Elongated slots 13 ateach end of the space 12 accommodate the magnetic handle bars 14.Certain of the figures 16 corresponding to the halfbacks and thefullbacks in this game are provided with a magnet 17 in the bottom asshown in FIG. 5. The inner ends of each magnetic handle bar 14 have amagnet or magnetic metal 18 embedded therein for manipulation of themagnetic figure 16.

Hereafter in order to avoid confusion in describing the game, thefigures 8, manipulated by pneumatic handle bars will be referred to aspneumatic figures 8, and the figures manipulated by the magnetic handlebars 14 will be referred to as magnetic figures 16.

At each end of the tabel there is provided the usual goal in the form ofa net 19 and the figure of a goalie 21 in front of the net 19 as shownin FIG. 5 with its manipulating handle 22 extending through a suitableslot 23 in the adjacent end 4 and near the top of the net 19 'so thatthe player can shift the goalie 21 to various positions according to theapproaching ball and then actuate the goalie in a manner to behereinafter described for catching the ball.

Each pneumatic figure 8, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, has a body 24standing on a base 26 and has a perpendicular passage 27 extending fromthe head 28 downwardly to a forward nozzle 29 spaced above the base 26.Legs 31 are pivoted at their tops by a piovt 32 under shoulders 33 ofthe body 24 so as to be swingable forward of the body. The legs 31 areconnected by a cross plate 34 which covers the nozzle 29 in the normalposition shown' in FIG. 7. Each leg 31 has a kicking foot 37 projectingforwardly beyond theplane of the cross plate 34. When compressed air isblown down the passage 27 and out through the nozzle 29 it blows againstthe plate 34 and swings it against the ball 37 as shown in FIG. 8, andthereby simulates the kicking of the ball.

The pneumatic handle bars are formed in a substantially semicylindricalshape as shown in FIG. 4 so as to prevent their rotation or rocking inthe respective elongated slot 6. In the figures of one team, in theillustration in FIG. 1 the dark figures 8, the pneumatic handle bar 7 issecured, in this illustration threaded, into the back of the head 28 asshown in FIG. 6. The compression bulb 9 is suitably secured on the outerend of the bar 7. The penumatic bar 7 may be straight as shown in FIG. 6or may be offset at its end downwardly as shown in FIG. 1.

On the pneumatic figures 8 of the other team on the right hand side ofFIG. 1 and on the right hand side of FIG. 3, the passage 27 eittends tothe top of the head 28 and the pneumatic handle 7 is suitably connectedto the upper end of the passage 27. The reason for this is to permit alimited crossing over of the figures as illustrated on the left handside of FIG. 2, thus the opposing players can pass one another inopposite directions because the pneumatic handles 7 and the figures 8 onthe left hand side of FIG. 3 can pass under the pneumatic handles 7 ofthe opposite team.

The legs point forward on the figures in the center, and on the figureson the sides point forward and inward on the playing field so graduatedthat the ball is kicked by the figures generally toward the oppositegoals as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In order to reduce the number of manipulations, the defensive figures16, which are the halfbacks and backs in the usual soccer game, aredefensively manipulated. In this illustration the manipulation isaccomplished by handling or manipulating the respective magnetic handles14 and moving them in the space 12 under the respective magnetic figures16.

Each goalie 21 has legs 38 extended outwardly to receive the ballsbetween them and guide them toward the body 39 of the goalie. The goaliehas arms 41 movable on the body 39. In this illustration the arms 41 areheld by a coil spring 42 secured in pockets 43 of the respective arms 41and extend through a transverse hole 44 in the body 39 as shown in FIG.'11. A manipulating cord 46 extends over the arms 41 and then through ahole 47 in each arm inwardly and then the double ends of the cord extendthrough a central hole 48 into the hollow manipulating handle 22 andthen out through a side hole 49 in the top of the manipulating handle22. The double ends 51 of the cord 46 are suitably secured to an arm 52of a bell crank, the thump piece 53 of which extends outwardly over theouter end of the manipulating handle 22, the bell crank being pivoted ona pivot 54 in ears 56 near the outer end of the manipulating handle 22.In this manner the player can shift the goalie 21 in the path of theball and if the ball rolls between the legs 38 then by depressing thethumb piece 53 the arms 41 are pulled together and the hand disks 57 onthe ends of the arms 41 can catch the ball in the manner shown in brokenlines in FIG. 11.

The game is played preferably in accordance with the rules of the usualsoccer game and it is started from the position shown in FIG. 1 wherethe starting players kick the ball and then endeavor to pass it from oneto the other while the defensive forwards endeavor to kick the ball inthe opposite direction each toward the goal of the other team. Suitableskill can be acquired by practice to shift from one handle to the otheras needed, each player operating one or two handles. Several players ateach end may play and manipulate the respective handles and canco-ordinate in manipulation with each other at the respective ends ofthe table. The game is exciting in that it requires ingenuouspositioning of the figures as well as the timing of the squeezing of thecompression ball.

I claim: 1. A simulated table football game device comprising,

a game board having a goal at each end, a plurality of figuressimulating football players movable on said board, manipulating meansfor moving certain of said figures in their entirety and individually,said individual manipulating means for each figure including a hollowhandle connected to the respective figure at one end thereof, asqueezable resilient bulb at the other end of each handle for blowingair through said hollow handle, a system of passages in the adjacentfigure connecting air from said hollow handle to a nozzle near the footportion of said figure fro propelling a ball adjacent to the footportion of said figure, said certain figures corresponding to theattacking members of a soccer football team, the other figures beingdefensive members of each team, individual handles extending beyond theadjacent end of the table for manipulating said defensive figures, andsaid other figures and their handles being correlated by magnetic meansfor manipulation.

2. The invention specified in claim 1, and

swingable foot-like members pivoted on the foot portion of said certainfigures and extending over said nozzle whereby air blown through saidnozzle swings said foot-like members for kicking the adjacent ball. U a"3. The invention specified in claim fiand said hollow handles connectedto said certain figures of one team being spaced higher from said gameboard than the hollow handles on said certian figures of the other teamto permit limited crossing of the respective paths of movement duringmanipulation, and

all the hollow handles being spaced higher from said game board than theheight of said defensive figures to permit manipulation of the attachingmembers past the opposing defensive members toward the respective goal.

4. A simulated table football game device comprising,

a game board having a goal at each end,

a plurality of figures simulating football players movable on saidboard,

manipulating means for moving certain of said figures individually, saidindividual manipulating means for each figure including a hollow handleconnected to the respective figure at one end thereof,

a squeezable resilient bulb at the other end of each handle for blowingair through said hollow handle,

a system of passages in the ajdacent figure connecting air from saidhollow handle to a nozzle near the foot portion of said figure forpropelling a ball adjacent to the foot portion of said figure,

said certain figures corresponding to the attacking members of a soccerfootball team,

the other figures being defensive members of each team,

individual handles extending beyond the adjacent end of the table formanipulating said defensive figures,

said other figures and said handles being correlated by magnetic meansfor manipulation,

a goal keeper figure in front of each goal being movable across thegoal,

movable arms on said goal keeper figure resiliently held in an initialposition,

a manipulating handle extended from said goal keeper figure for movingsaid goal keeper figure in the path of the ball, and

manipulatable means correlated with said handle for moving the armstogether for catching the ball at the will of the player.

5. A simulated table football game device comprising,

a game board having a goal at each end,

a plurality of figures simulating football players movable on saidboard,

manipulating means for moving certain of said figures individually, saidindividual manipulating means for each figure including a hollow handleconnected to the respective figure at one end thereof,

a squeezable resilient bulb at the other end of each handle for blowingair through said hollow handle,

a system of passages in the adjacent figure connecting air from saidhollow handle to a nozzle near the 6. The invention specified in claim5, and substantially perpendicular ends and sides surrounding saidboard, elongated slots in each of said ends, each slot slideablyaccommodating one of said hollow handles.

1. A simulated table football game device comprising, a game board having a goal at each end, a plurality of figures simulating football players movable on said board, manipulating means for moving certain of said figures in their entirety and individually, said individual manipulating means for each figure including a hollow handle connected to the respective figure at one end thereof, a squeezable resilient bulb at the other end of each handle for blowing air through said hollow handle, a system of passages in the adjacent figure connecting air from said hollow handle to a nozzle near the foot portion of said figure fro propelling a ball adjacent to the foot portion of said figure, said certain figures corresponding to the attacking members of a soccer football team, the other figures being defensive members of each team, individual handles extending beyond the adjacent end of the table for manipulating said defensive figures, and said other figures and their handles being correlated by magnetic means for manipulation.
 2. The invention specified in claim 1, and swingable foot-like members pivoted on the foot portion of said certain figures and extending over said nozzle whereby air blown through said nozzle swings said foot-like members for kicking the adjacent ball.
 3. The invention specified in claim 1, and said hollow handles connected to said certain figures of one team being spaced higher from said game board than the hollow handles on said certian figures of the other team to permit limited crossing of the respective paths of movement during manipulation, and all the hollow handles being spaced higher from said game board than the height of said defensive Figures to permit manipulation of the attaching members past the opposing defensive members toward the respective goal.
 4. A simulated table football game device comprising, a game board having a goal at each end, a plurality of figures simulating football players movable on said board, manipulating means for moving certain of said figures individually, said individual manipulating means for each figure including a hollow handle connected to the respective figure at one end thereof, a squeezable resilient bulb at the other end of each handle for blowing air through said hollow handle, a system of passages in the ajdacent figure connecting air from said hollow handle to a nozzle near the foot portion of said figure for propelling a ball adjacent to the foot portion of said figure, said certain figures corresponding to the attacking members of a soccer football team, the other figures being defensive members of each team, individual handles extending beyond the adjacent end of the table for manipulating said defensive figures, said other figures and said handles being correlated by magnetic means for manipulation, a goal keeper figure in front of each goal being movable across the goal, movable arms on said goal keeper figure resiliently held in an initial position, a manipulating handle extended from said goal keeper figure for moving said goal keeper figure in the path of the ball, and manipulatable means correlated with said handle for moving the arms together for catching the ball at the will of the player.
 5. A simulated table football game device comprising, a game board having a goal at each end, a plurality of figures simulating football players movable on said board, manipulating means for moving certain of said figures individually, said individual manipulating means for each figure including a hollow handle connected to the respective figure at one end thereof, a squeezable resilient bulb at the other end of each handle for blowing air through said hollow handle, a system of passages in the adjacent figure connecting air from said hollow handle to a nozzle near the foot portion of said figure for propelling a ball adjacent to the foot portion of said figure, said hollow handle on said certain figures of one team being spaced higher from said game board than the hollow handle connected to the other of said figures to permit manipulation of opposing figures crossing one another''s path.
 6. The invention specified in claim 5, and substantially perpendicular ends and sides surrounding said board, elongated slots in each of said ends, each slot slideably accommodating one of said hollow handles. 